Paris haute couture Show Chanel ditches stilettos for sneakers

MODELS ditched the traditional, ill-fitting sample shoes with perilously high heels for chromatic color running shoes at the Chanel haute couture show in Paris. The amazingly casual move by feared designer Karl Lagerfeld set the climate for a collection of slacked interprets letting in dropped-waist full-length gowns, browsed bouclé jackets with T-shirt sleeves, A-line skirts and boater-style cropped jackets. Despite the casual reinterpretation of Chanel’s classic silhouettes, designs were rich in decorative detail from silk decorate flowers and glass beading to lurex thread and peacock feathers.

Of all the 65 models to shun spikes for sneakers, Brit “It” girl and skating fan Cara Delavigne looked easiest in the contemporaneous collection. Cementing her position as queen of the couture label, the barmy model stole the sartorial spotlight in the starring role of the blazing finale. Clad in a beaded, sheer white bridal gown with excessive feather headdress and flagellations of spangled silver eyeliner, Delevingne was joined by Lagerfeld and his godson Hudson Kroening cast as page boy to close the show at the Grand Palais.

It will be occupying to see if celebrities, who use the couture catwalks as a catalogue for choosing their Oscar gowns, will be inspired by Chanel’s casual approach to the season. British actor and star of Saving Mr Banks Emma Thompson was praised by fashion and couch critics alike at the Screen Actors Guild Awards last week for ditching heels in favour of flats.